Facebook sorry for removing Reynolds nude photo.
Users complained when they tried to post iconic image
A centerfold photo of the late Burt Reynolds now has something in common with another iconic photo — the one of the Vietnam War-era “napalm girl.” The actor’s photo was briefly banned by Facebook, too.
Social media users complained Friday that when they tried to post the famous 1972 Cosmopolitan magazine photo of Reynolds lying naked on a bearskin rug with his hand strategically placed over his crotch, Facebook removed the photo. Some people even reported on Twitter that their Facebook accounts were disabled because they posted the photo.
Facebook returned the following message to those who posted the photo: “Your post goes against our Community Standards on nudity or sexual activity.”
Reynolds died Thursday at the age of 82, prompting people to share their appreciation on social media. One of his most appreciated photos is the nude Cosmo photo — which was groundbreaking in its time.
“The photo doesn’t even show anything,” said Roger Wingman, a.k.a. @WasItRodge, on Twitter. “If you’re going to sell out our country to Russia, you can at least stop being so damn prude.”
A Facebook spokeswoman said Friday it was all a mistake, and blamed it on automated software that detects nudity.
“The image in question was mistakenly removed,” she said. “We are restoring the image as it does
not break our standards and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.” She also said the company would be working to restore any accounts that were mistakenly suspended.
Two years ago, Facebook banned the Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of a young girl fleeing a napalm attack during the Vietnam War. The company reversed its decision after facing plenty of criticism from around the world about censorship. The incident highlighted the continuing challenge Facebook and other tech
giants face when it comes to policing content, and their roles as gatekeepers of news.
Facebook’s other controversial removals throughout the years have included photos of breastfeeding mothers. And just last month, the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect complained that Facebook removed its post about a Holocaust article because it was accompanied by a photo of naked children from a Nazi concentration camp. Facebook made a Uturn on that decision, too.
In both cases — the “napalm girl” photo removal and that of the Holocaustrelated photo — Facebook later said it realized the “historical significance” of the pictures.